So I was thinking...

Don't Grow Weary In Doing Well

2011-09-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

I am not a very complex person. I am actually quite simple-minded. I [tend to] see things in black and white. Right and wrong. Good and evil. I even used to be an idealist. Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't say I no longer am one; at heart, I still want to be. It's just that I've had more than my fair share of disappointments and frustrations along this long and wearisome journey we call Life. Which is why, I suspect, the admonition, which is the title of this [pick one] rant / blog / complaint / exasperated outburst, begins with a three-word encouragement: "don't grow weary". "Weary" strongly hints that there are things up ahead that will exhaust one's vigor, freshness and hope. "Grow" means that these expected obstacles and challenges will surely become more and more daunting and, with them, one's weariness will grow. "Don't" implies that one will, like it or not, eventually become weary for sure.And what will we grow weary of? Doing well. Doing good. Doing right.As a minister of the Gospel, I have stood behind many a pulpit, speaking to innumerable faces, and encouraged them to stay the course. To not stray from the path of righteousness. To not grow weary in doing well.But lately, I have had to live up to my many admonitions. I have had to go up against the daunting challenges and obstacles. I have tried to do [and keep doing!] the right thing. But at almost every turn I have been met, not so much with violent opposition, but by cold, almost autistic [apologies to all people with autism everywhere] obstinacy. And this from people who are ensconced in places of authority [I kid you not, as I was typing those previous words I heard someone exasperatedly wish death over those people out of utter frustration!], people who are supposed to be "public servants" but, when approached by the public, of which I am one, suddenly become snobbish, obstinate bureaucrats/demigods with arms crossed, apparently waiting for me to either jump through their hoops or bring them a virgin sacrifice. And I did. I jumped through their hoops. All of them! Which is quite the achievement, seeing as I can't even jump.Alas, when one of them put their hand out, palm-side up, I had no virgin sacrifice to bring. And that was when things got really frustrating. All of a sudden the phrase, "I want to help you" began coming out of this denied demi-crat like a sudden onset of Turret's syndrome. And with increasing alacrity. "I want to help you." "I WANT to help you." "I REALLY want to help you..." Every 3rd or 4th sentence. The more he said it, the more it sounded like the nervous little cough people do when they really want to tell you something which they dare not verbalize out loud, in public, for fear of censure. Something like, "I'll take a bribe, thanks." Cough. "I want to help you." Cough, cough, cough.I wish to high heavens that there were some sort of really bitter cough syrup that I could have given to this person. And to every person who has this kind of nervous, nerve-wracking coughing habit. Anyway, back to the hacking hack. I had no cough drop for him. Or lozenge. Or syrup. Or bribe. And that was when he made life more difficult for me. By turning in an "all negative" report to his superiors about the matter which we had approached them about and for which we were asking their kind consideration.Actually, up until that point, I had actually been making headway. I had gotten my request heard by the head honcho of the department. He, in turn, referred me to his right hand person. Both had graciously sat with me and heard me out and agreed to help us out. So, they sent their people to our offices to look at the things we were asking consideration for. Lo and behold, those people came back to us with their, "We see no problem with your stuff! We'll tell our bosses the same."So far so good. And then the coughing started.Cough. "I want to help you." Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough. "I want to help you." "I WANT to help you." "I REALLY want to help you..." Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough.Like I said, sorry no cough drop.The following day, this gentleman came back to our office with an armful of "new evidence" - an allegedly new list of violations which we had not told them about. And guess what he told me. "I want to help you."Honestly, out of sheer frustration, I looked him in the eye and said, "If a person is drowning and he is within your arm's reach from the shore you don't tell him you want to help him, you reach out your hand and help him." He didn't get it. Cough.So I told him point blank, "Look, I'm a pastor. I don't do bribes. We have given you everything you have asked for, done everything you told us to do. So here's the deal: you go back to your bosses and hand in your report. And whatever they say to us, we shall abide by." And I showed him the door.I said those words because, prior to his coughing spells, he did tell us, "We see no problem with your stuff! We'll tell our bosses the same."And I believed him! (Told you I'm still an idealist at heart!)I called up his superior demi-crat to ask about our request, only to be told by said superior that I had "not been telling them the whole truth". that I had "kept [these allegedly new violations] from them" and that [surprise! surprise!] their people [Mr. Cough-cough and Co.] had submitted to them an "all negative report" as a result. And so we should just wait for their response by letter.Well... I was just speechless. Just as surely as if Mayweather himself had sucker punched me right on my chin through the phone.And so, through the haze that was my utter disbelief at how things had so swiftly gone from "lookin' good!' to "Cumulonimbus!!!" (Remember "Up"?). And all I could say was, "Yes, we will wait for your response."And just when I thought I had taken the worst beating of all.... someone high up from our end says, "Those guys who want a bribe...? Bribe 'em."That was when everything just started feeling like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Or Luke hearing Vader say "I am your father." That was when I realized that I was just plain weary.Tired.Worn out.And, not long after that, was when I saw those 6 words.Don't.Grow.Weary.In doing well.Well.....I am.Tonight, right now... I am.Thank goodness there's always tomorrow.

The Necessity of Adversity

2010-08-07T00:55:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear the life testimony of former motel-mogul-turned-Christian-businessman Wyden King.

He told us the powerful story of his journey from infamy to righteousness - how he got started in business as a young man, full of the world and full of himself. As such, he had no qualms about starting his motel business, which soon boomed into a highly lucrative cash cow from which he milked an average of P2M/day! Of course, such an immoral venture was not without its price - he lost interest in his wife and began a years-long relationship with a mistress, which, in turn, cost him the love and respect of his children. Then, He came to know the Lord.

Not long after, the Holy Spirit began to convict him about the conflict between his newfound faith in Christ and his multi-million peso empire of carnality. Needless to say, the path of obedience and Kingdom-righteousness proved very costly for Mr. King. With great reluctance, plenty of financial sacrifices and much bargaining with God, he began the systematic dismantling of his powerful but immoral empire, a process that lasted quite a few years. Eventually, he and his mistress separated and he began to work on his marriage anew. Ultimately, he was rewarded by the LORD with the salvation of his children and the rekindling of his love for his wife. And now, he has the joy of sharing his powerful testimony and the Gospel of Christ to all who will hear!

Now, that was a great story, wasn't it? Full of drama and conflict. We all love a great story, especially if it involves great cost, great sacrifice and great triumphs.

But what about us? How do we handle our story? When the Author of our Faith writes in a new plot twist, say, an illness or a job loss or (God forbid!) the death of a loved one, how do we respond? Are we quick to declare our confidence and hope in Him, Whom, we say, has been faithful to us through the years? Or are we quick to wither away beneath the weight of our new adversity? Do we praise Him in spite of our circumstances, or are we more prone to complain... or curse?

Sadly, I must confess that I tend to fall in the company of the latter responses. And this, in spite of God's perfect track record of faithfulness and unfailing kindness that is never too early nor too late. I hang my head in shame.

How do we overcome this fallen tendency towards spiritual amnesia? How do we learn to finally man up and face our challenges with a more steadfast faith and a tougher resolve to trust in Him?

I believe we can begin by embracing this one simple truth: "Adversity is a necessary component in our Journey towards Christ-likeness."

In Job 23:10, it says:
"But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

It has been said time and again that God is not as interested in our comfort as He is in our character. Like the goldsmith, He isn't happy with simply unearthing us from our previous darkness; He wants to make us into a glorious, gleaming treasure - a thing of beauty that is a sight to behold - for all to see! In doing so, people will not only celebrate what we have then become but they will glorify and worship Him Who made us that way!

But how does the goldsmith - and God - do this? Through fire.

Bottom line, God is at work in us and His apparent instruments of choice are the flames of adversity. Such flames are not meant to destroy us but, rather, to undo us. For it is only when we are undone in the flesh that God can begin to do His deep work in our spirit. God is the skillful Craftsman Who, even now, is refining us through the fires of Adversity to fashion for Himself a People purified as gold, useful and fit for His Divine Purpose!

The sooner we embrace this truth, the sooner we accept this process and yield to Him Who holds the carefully measured flames in His mighty hands, the sooner we shall be fashioned into His image and likeness. From our tests will come our testimony; from our mess, our message.

And God alone shall receive all the glory.

10 Scripture Texts on God's Mission - Ed Stetzer

2010-01-11T04:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some excellent verses to meditate upon as we seek to be CATALYSTs of Change for God's Kingdom in 2010...

GENESIS 12:1-3 The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

EXODUS 19:5, 6
Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.

ISAIAH 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:
Who should I send?
Who will go for Us?
I said:
Here I am. Send me.

MATTHEW 24:14
This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

MATTHEW 28:18-20
Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

MARK 16:15
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

LUKE 24:46-48
"This is what is written: the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high."

JOHN 20:21
Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

ACTS 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

1 PETER 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people for His possession,
so that you may proclaim the praises
of the One who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God's people;
you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.

SOURCE: EdStetzer.com

Just DO Something! - Kevin De Young

2010-01-11T00:19:00.000-08:00

Listened again to Kevin De Young's POWERFUL message "Just Do Something!"

I already heard it late last year, but I really needed to hear it again!

Well, go ahead! Listen to it!

And may the Lord help us all to be men and women of "plodding vision" who will simply and wholeheartedly "Die to self, live for Christ and then do what you want, where you want."

Amen.

My watchword for 2010 - CATALYST

2010-01-06T20:35:00.001-08:00

Sometime in the last quarter of 2009 I sensed the Lord drop the word "catalyst" into my spirit. Since then, I have been on an intensified, intentional quest for godly insights into the word, as well as its implications in my life.
So far, these are what I've dug up.
Webster's Online Dictionary defines a catalyst as:
cat·a·lyst
Pronunciation: \ˈka-tə-ləst\

1 : a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

DICTIONAIRE defines a catalyst as...

> something that causes an important even to happen

> [chemistry] a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected

WIKIPEDIA defines a catalyst in conjunction with the process of catalysis, thus:

Catalysis is the process in which the rate of a chemical reaction is either increased or decreased by means of a chemical substance known as a catalyst. Unlike other reagents that participate in the chemical reaction, a catalyst is not consumed by the reaction itself.

The catalyst may participate in multiple chemical transformations. Catalysts that speed the reaction are called positive catalysts. Catalysts that slow down the reaction are called negative catalysts or inhibitors. Substances that increase the activity of catalysts are called promoters and substances that deactivate catalysts are called catalytic poisons.

The following thoughts are from a Christian website that has already plumbed the depths of the implications of a person's live lived as a catalyst for Christ.

ELEMENTS OF A CATALYST LEADER

AUTHENTIC IN THEIR INFLUENCE
Influence is gained naturally, not through coercion or manipulation.

This is a natural outcome when the leader is “being” (integrity, passion) and “doing” (calling, community, culture). Leading is an easy next step once the other core elements are being consistently practiced and modeled.

UNCOMPROMISING IN THEIR INTEGRITY
Character, integrity, conviction, discipline and private, personal decisions – these all comprise the inner character and integrity of a Catalyst leader.

I understand that my character and integrity is the guard to my soul and ultimately their life. This can’t be let go, can’t be delegated, it’s the foundation of who I am as a person and as a leader. It’s the basis from which my moral authority is grounded. It must be nurtured, guarded and found true under testing.

INTENTIONAL ABOUT COMMUNITY
People are in my life at all levels. Close personal friends that keep me accountable, question my deepest motives and help me stay true to the vision God has imprinted on my heart.

I value the people that work for and alongside me, recognizing that I am fulfilling a leadership role with people God has entrusted to my care. Catalyst leaders value the wisdom of those more experienced than them and seek out council in all things of importance.

PASSIONATE ABOUT GOD
I must have awareness of my small role in God’s big, developing story. This is critical to my humility, faith and trust in Him as the definer of how He will use me and my calling.

To have this constant awareness, I must connect with God without ceasing through my life, study, music, art, film, vocation and relationships. My passion for God to receive Glory must be bigger than my desire for Glory.

COURAGEOUS ABOUT THEIR CALLING
God has a unique purpose that he desires to carry out in me. To know this purpose I must first know Him. To fulfill this purpose, I must trust Him and have the courage to act on it, which may feel like a risk.

My talents and heart converge to create my calling and purpose. I am competent in my calling because I am committed to further developing and honing my talents and skills. My foundational understanding of how God is working during our times, determines the specific way I apply this calling vocationally.

ENGAGED IN CULTURE
As a leader, I must understand the context God has placed me in. I must know the audience I am connecting with to have any opportunity of connection and relevance.

Because God desires that Christ-followers engage and influence their surroundings, I will be a source of hope, redemption, justice and peace in my community, demonstrating a piece of the Kingdom of God in a fallen world.

===

Going with what I've gathered above, this is now my personal prayer:

May the LORD grant me / us the grace

to move onward and forward

with unflagging zeal and fervor

regardless of past failures, setbacks and shortcomings,

and continue to be "salt and light",

engaged and affecting

but unaffected by,

this darkened, decaying world,

instructed in His Wisdom

and faithfully involved

~ CATALYSTS of Change ~

thereby speeding the advancement

of Christ's Kingdom

solely for His Glory

and His Name's sake.

Amen.

In 2009...

2009-12-25T03:23:00.000-08:00

2009 is just about done. As usual, I thought I'd go over some of the most significant moments of the past 365 days in my life as a father, a husband and a sojourner.

Feel free to read along [it's your time after all], click on the links and reminisce with me.

Having gone over all the events that have transpired, all I can say is, truly, God is good!

I hope you, too, will find yourselves similarly, if not even more greatly BLESSED this coming 2010.

God's blessings, favor and grace to everyone!

=====

JANUARY - A Time of Testing

Our year got off on a great start when our beloved Chuck passed the UPCAT! Needless to say, we were all so proud of our #1 son and, now, "isko ng bayan"! (This more than made up for the minor dampers of almost all our major appliances failing, especially our beloved TV.)

My high school batch had our reunion after 25 years! - Amazing. Quarter of a century later and we were all still the same idiots, just with bigger paunches and less hair. I say that in the most respectful manner!

After that, I had to venture out in faith. With absolutely no money for it, I had to trust God anew for my airfare to the US. To make matters more interesting, my 10-year US visa had expired. I needed a new one and fast! To compound matters, I was apparently beginning to manifest signs of "post-polio syndrome".

Not good.

Thankfully, the Lord armed my soul with one Word: 2 Chronicles 16:9.

FEBRUARY - A Time of Testing and Affirming Faith

Last year, after almost 2 decades of existence, our JAS sign got written up in a major news daily! This month, it was vulgarly covered by a bright LED TV screen that effectively blocked its visibility. Would this be "the end of Mt. JaS"?

Well, in spite of what could be considered a major damper, what can I say but "God is good!" The US government granted me a new visa! And just in the time of nick! Thanks to them, I got to attend not just 1 but 2 MCIN Conferences - one in Orlando, FL and the other in Dallas, TX!

I also finally got to have my date with Lady Liberty and when I was invited to preach in NY by my good friends, Joey and Gigi Mercado!

In Dallas, I also went on my very first safari and fed a buffalo! Imagine that? I also I got to worship with my Christ-family in Relevant Church there!

Back in LA, I got to witness, first hand, what I like to call "The Eye of God". This was a very personal moment for me as I had been holding on to His Word this whole time.

MARCH - A Time of Healing

This month saw me back in Vancouver, VBC where, among other things, my brother David took me to the Capillano bridge! This particular point in my physical and spiritual Faith Journey brought home a major lesson in my heart that God had been impressing upon me from Day 1 of this year.

I think I finally got it - I am NOT a cripple.

APRIL - A Time for Action

Fresh from my stay with him, kuya-mentor-pastor Jaren commissioned me to put together 3 projects: 1) a medical mission for his US team to hold in Angono, Rizal; 2) a gathering of worshippers where he would share his vision for a world-record breaking event; and 3) a grand reunion of JOHIA, dubbed "Scattered, Now GODthered". This month saw the ScaNowGa meetings coming together and things beginning to take shape.

Incredibly, the minute we started taking action, God's hand of provision and favor seemed to bless us with several good things, including a new flat screen HD TV to replace our dearly departed old one.

MAY - A Time of Miracles and Impossibilities!

All those meetings eventually culminated in a Triple Triumph, what with the one-day Medical Mission in Angono, the worship convergence that was iMerge, and the JOHIA Reunion all happening just as planned. The latter took place simultaneous with Rose's long-delayed operation, which the Lord totally turned into a wondrous miracle of provision! All told, we even ended up making money!

All this only highlighted the "impossible life" that we have been living all these years! Praise be to God alone!

JUNE and JULY - A time of Transition

For the very first time, I became a >ahem!< "seminary professor" when I taught a class in Bible seminary! I was invited to teach a Homiletics class by Rose's previous employer, Manila Bible Institute.

This month also found me asking no one in particular, "Who am I?" In response, I got a literal "Call" - a phone call that would bring me and my family to a Crossroad and open a great door of opportunity for me and usher into my life one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced.

This was also the time when we welcomed into our home a precocious little brown furball whom we named "Kayu", short for "kayumanggi". Amazingly enough, the lone "dog-hater" of the family soon ended up becoming the little she-pup's most adoring fan! When Rose needed to stay home for more than a month, cute Kayu kept her company and they ended up bonding and becoming the best of friends!

JULY

With the gracious permission of our then-home church, ICS, our family began the work in Angono - that of pastoring the fledgling church birthed from my wife's school there. Sunday afternoons started seeing all five of us hailing a cab and heading to Purok 6, Sitio Mahabang Parang where we would worship with and share the Word to the growing body of believers there.

AUGUST - A Time to Look Back and Move Forward

This month saw our entire family go back to revisit one of our seminal ministries - the small church that we helped pioneer in Malanday, Valenzuela 18 years ago!

Yes, it was time to witness the Debut of what was now Jesus Lord Almighty Church, Valenzuela! It was so good to see it not just "still alive" but alive and well! It now had at least 4 daughter churches, with one as far as in Mindoro! Glory to God!

This was also the time when JASMin was born! It would now seem that the blockage of the JAS sign earlier this year was a precursor of "Greater things": the launching of Jesus Alone Saves Ministries in Angono, Rizal. As one dear friend [correctively] pointed out - "When God closes a window, He opens a door." Yup! A big one!

SEPTEMBER - A Time of GREATER Things

As if being pastor of one church wasn't a big enough challenge, this month saw us take what is probably one of the biggest steps of faith we've ever taken as a family yet. With the blessings of our pastor in ICS, September saw me become the senior pastor of Makati Hope Christian Church! I kid you not, this has turned out to be quite the challenge!

And speaking of challenges, I also took on the dare to blog for 30 days! Thankfully, I was kept company by a pro.

And then, just when I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, the whole nation met its match when, after 42 years, it was inundated by the Noahic floodwaters of ONDOY.

OCTOBER - A Time of Overcoming

Turning tragedy into triumph, our nation rose from its traumatized condition and showed to all the world anew that our God-given resilience and ability to minister to "love its own", even in the times of greatest calamity, is still one of the best reasons to be "proudly Pinoy"!

For our part, we in MHCC came together the students and parents, faculty and staff of Makati Hope Christian School and embarked on a relatively huge relief operation that ultimately lasted 'til mid-November and ministered to almost 2000 families in over a dozen flood-hit areas that included Taguig, Taytay, the urban poor community next door to our church, Talim Island, Valenzuela, and others.

NOVEMBER - A Time of Coming Together and Letting Go

This month saw me fly back to Laoag for Greater '09! T'was good to be reunited with my MCP-A family! It was good to come together with some of the "heroes" of my life - Mommy Lorie Cruz, Doris Guzman of MCIN, the young warriors of MCP. Sadly, our beloved "ate" Cristy could not be with us as she had to be in Butuan, preparing for her soon-coming departure for the US to be with her mom in Colorado.

That conference effectively marked the end of an era for MCP-A.

DECEMBER - A Time for Gratitude

This month Rose and I hit 20 years, by the grace of God.

It's amazing to think that, just five minutes ago, I met this lovely, selfless, giving, God-loving woman, dated her, married her and had three wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, gifted, talented kids with her.

It's even more amazing to think that, after 20 years, she's still here. You see, as if to underscore our good fortune, another dear couple, good friends of ours who got married just a few days after we did, announced their divorce during our anniversary week. This was sad, sobering news.

And now, with just a few hours from Rose's 44th birthday, and barely three days away from the coming year, what have I learned from all the days and events that have transpired?

That the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.

That He is true to His Word; what He says shall come to pass, no matter how seemingly improbable or impossible.

That, with God, nothing is impossible.

That this great and wonderful God is on our side.

And for as long as we are on His side, GREATER THINGS ARE YET TO COME!

What is Christmas all about?

2009-12-24T22:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas time comes, Christmas time passes.

But the Christ of Christmas is here to stay.

May His peace, favor, grace and blessing be with you and yours always!

~ Ptr. Jesse and Rose Dedel

Jesi Rose, Charles Keith and Joshua Erickson

Dedel Christmas Dinner '09 - Thank You, Lord!

2009-12-19T02:43:00.000-08:00

"God is our refuge and strength..." - Psalm 46:1

Basilio's, Dec. 19, 2009

Thank You Lord for another blessed time of fellowship, food and foolishness!

This year saw Kuya David back home from Canada, sans ate Beng, Kuya Sammy still strong and with us together with his growing brood, ate Tessie and kuya Boy all the way from Pulilan, and our family of five.

Lord, we thank You and acknowledge that it is by Your goodness and faithfulness that we have come this far as a family!

Indeed, You are our Refuge and Strength!

Blessed be Your Name!

Attention MCPHIL-ASIA: "GREATER '09" LIMITED EDITION MUGS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

2009-12-17T23:59:00.000-08:00

Only P150/mug.

Limited edition.

Dishwasher safe.

Buy 5, get one mug FREE!

Send me a personal message for your orders ASAP!!!

20

2009-12-13T02:59:00.000-08:00

I've known you and lived with you now more than I have ever known or lived with anyone else on earth. I guess, after two decades, our age is starting to show. But, thankfully, our love continues to grow.

I love you, Rose. Thanks for sharing the last 20 years of your life with me.

Thanks for having three beautiful, wonderful, slightly imperfect but nonetheless irreplaceably precious children with me.

And thank you for patiently loving me, in spite of the many reasons I've given you along the way to stop doing so.

I thank God for you.

I hope and pray that, by His sustaining grace and abounding love, we shall be granted many more years together.

And Eternity besides.

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." - Prov.31:29

Congratulations to Efren Pe�aflorida, CNN's 2009 Hero of the Year!

2009-11-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

"The hero in you is waiting to be unleashed." - Efren Pe�afloridahalf a minute ago from web
- Delete
"Serve. Serve well. Serve others above yourself." - Efren Pe�aflorida1 minute ago from web
"You are the Change that you dream." - Efren Pe�aflorida, CNN Hero of the Year2 minutes ago from web

It's gonna be another GOOD DAY! =D

2009-11-13T14:02:00.000-08:00

happytwit

That's you!

Last nyt, just b4 speaking 2 Xtreme, I got a funny fone call. Should'a knocked d wind outta me. It didn't. TNXJC! U R D strength of my heartless than a minute ago from web
RT @happytwit "A good day is a day that makes you good." ;)
4 minutes ago from web
sitting here at home enjoying my sun-kissed, serotonin-infused morning w/a cuppa Joe and my fave Tweeps while waiting for good friends! =)6 minutes ago from web

Have you read Ella's blog?

2009-10-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

I received an email from my brother about an inflammatory blog that seeks to expose the alleged gross corruption going on at the DSWD.

Apparently, in the face of the nationwide catastrophes brought about by the twin terror typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, some officials have the gall to hoard foreign-sent relief and aid in their cavernous warehouses.

Now I confess that when I saw ella's blogpost I was infuriated. However, in these volatile times, I believe that we must all keep a level head until we have all the facts.

In the interest of fairness, here's the DSWD's side.

Obviously, the DSWD can always issue statements of this nature in their defense. But why is it that we, even as Christ-followers, are more ready to assume and believe the worst when it comes to our government officials? I know, I know.

I know.

Still, regardless of who is telling the truth, I believe the most responsible things we can do are:

1) Let us do our part. let us volunteer. Let us give. Let us be "Christ in flesh" to those who need compassion and care, help and rehabilitation.

2) Let us not just share relief; let us share the Gospel. The balance is in Isa.40:1-8 where God says to "comfort, comfort my people..."

With what? "...Cry out, 'The grass withers and flowers fade but My Word lasts forever." [emphasis added]

Relief goods will be consumed in 2-3 days, max. But the Gospel endures and outlasts all of life's storms.

3) Let us PRAY for our government officials and institutions. They can be unreacheable to us, but they cannot hide from God's mighty Hands that move in response to our prayers.

As followers of Jesus we are to be salt and light. Among other things, this means that we are better off as part of the solution and not part of the problem.

May the God of Peace soon crush satan and his minions underneath the feet of the righteous.

On Consecration

2009-10-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

I'll be sharing on CONSECRATION in our College / Young Pro tonight.
Here are some thoughts on the subject, taken from the "7 Stages of Spiritual Growth" module of World Teach Ministries.
Good stuff!
happytwit
Consecration occurs when we voluntarily release all control of our life to God; it radically influences & changes ones conduct & priorities.2 minutes ago from web
Consecration is a continuous recurring process that takes place at several levels & various times of one's life as one journeys with Christ.4 minutes ago from web
Consecration is the voluntary dedication of your life to God; a private commitment of the heart. Rom.12:112 minutes ago from web

A Nation that Loves Its Own - From Gary V

2009-10-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

Gary Valenciano shares his message of hope in the midst of the disaster brought about by typhoon Ondoy.
- Caloy Di�o, Kristianong Pinoy group moderator

A Nation that Loves Its Own
from Gary Valenciano

There are moments in our lives wherein the moment takes our breath away and we are left speechless. I am in such a moment today. I have gone up close to areas of disaster with not much to say in the midst of the deafening silence of loss. And I have seen the united stand this country has made to reach out, help, and perhaps, even start rebuilding not just homes, but hearts and lives. There is hope because people have it in them to love unconditionally.

For whatever reason this may have happened, it has brought us all closer to each other, closer to our neighbour, closer to our family, closer to our God. To sustain all this is a difficult task but for as long as people who are willing and volunteer to help exist, there is hope.

I pray we are continually blessed, blessed with the wisdom to do the impossible. God bless the Philippines. It is obvious that regardless of what we may have heard others say about this nation, or what we ourselves have thought about it, it is a nation that loves its own.

Car soup

2009-09-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

I can't describe it any other way - several cars are just floating aimlessly in flood water. Like so much dimsum in noodle soup.

In this video, torrential floods are washing out several parked cars. Then human drama unfolds as a lady climbs out the window of one of the cars.

Heart-stopping.

BE ADVISED: The screaming of the off-cam people can be disconcerting.

LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR PEOPLE AND OUR NATION.

SHALOM!

Force Majeure

2009-09-26T04:54:00.000-07:00

Okay. Here's what I know so far:

There hasn't been a storm like this in our country in 42 years. There are now 25 provinces inundated by the floods it has caused. At least five thousand people are stranded in the Trinoma mall alone. And, just now, it has been pointed out that tropical storm Ondoy "falls under hurricane category 4. Katrina was only category 3."

Tomorrow, the national Bar and Licensure Exams for teachers have been cancelled. Victory Christian Fellowship has called off their Sunday services. And I, as pastor of MHCC, am contemplating the wisdom of following suit.

Tonight our young adults' fellowship, U-Turn, was called off, and even our ministry head for that group had been stranded in traffic along Roxas Blvd. for 5 hours the last time I checked on her.

As I type these words, thousands of families' lives and properties have been literally upturned and / or submerged. And at least one family is weeping over the plight of their 6-day old child who was buried under their collapsed house. We are still waiting for word on that child's condition. And I am still praying.

My feelings at this point are mixed - deep sadness for our countrymen, revulsion at the sight of chocolate-brown waters in which our people swim and move and live, gratefulness for having my whole family with me safe and sound in our concrete fourth-floor home, vicariously anxious for all the people who are still braving rain and traffic and floods just to get home.

As I watch the live news broadcasts from the Kapuso channel, I am at once in awe and in tears with their field reporter Susan Enriquez. Even as she interviews the flood victims, you can clearly see that she, herself, feels their pain and, in spite of herself, weeps with them on camera. It's not an act you see. In times like these, it's actually appropriate.

The legal world has a name for Ondoy and the unstoppable havoc he has wreaked upon our nation - "Force Majeure".

Wikipedia gives this definition - Force Majeure (French for "superior force"), also known as cas fortuit (French) or casus fortuitus (Latin), is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war,strike, riot, crime, or an event described by the legal term "act of God" (e.g., flooding, earthquake, volcano), prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract.

Did you catch its other name? An "act of God".

Amazing. The same harmless, life-giving water in a glass, the same cool breeze that refreshes on a hot summer day... can become an invincible, lethal attack of nature when unleashed by the mighty Hand of the Living God. No wonder the Bible says that Job's anguished questions were all silenced when he heard God speak to him "out of the storm".

So what's my point? I'm not really sure I have one, to be honest.

All I know is, in light of all the events of this day, my heart cannot help but remember these words from the OT prophet Micah -

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

May the Lord have mercy on those who, in light of this sheer display of God's power, still have the gall to 'play God' - taking advantage of their fellowmen, refusing to lift a finger to help those in need.

And may He hear the cries of the oppressed, the homeless, the helpless and those who are despairing for life.

O LORD, our great and mighty God, have mercy upon our people.

Still the wind and the rain.

Heal our land once again.

Amen.

Happy birthday Jesi Rose!

2009-09-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

Love you. Proud of you.

So thankful you're our daughter!

Blessings, favor and grace, all from God, today and forever!

Happy 19th birthday, Jesi!

Yun na yun?

2009-09-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Amazing.

I didn't really realize it until I checked the date. And even after I did, I just had to make sure.

Akalain mo yun... 30 days na pala akong nagbo-blog? It's been a month now since my very first blog in response to the challenge of the one and only blueberry010!

To be honest, I had my doubts about being able to do a full thirty days. In fact, I actually started late and even missed my very second day! Still, thanks to the graciousness encouragement and non-legalism of my blog-mate-friend-challenger I found the strength and fortitude to plod on.

Truth be told, there would be days when I would wrack my brain as to what to blog on. Nakaka-ngarag din pala kapag alam mong may maayos na kausap na kahit tahimik lang e inaantay ang bahagi mo sa usapan ninyo. Of course, there was never any pressure. But, fragnabbit! , when I check my Inbox...she'll have her blog for the day in and that just drove me nuts! I'd be like Homer Simpson and go, "D-oh!"

But then again, there'd be days when I would be "in the zone", y'know? I'd do like 2 or even three blogs in a day. Of course, some of those blogs wouldn't really count as blogs, like the summary I did for a longer blog. But still, during those days I'd fell like, "Ha-HA! Am I bloggin' or what?"

There were actually days when I thought Yang had missed a few days. She actually did miss one day. but then I didn't see any blogs in my Inbox for two days or so. So, I thought I'd pay back her graciousness by not asking her about it!

One day, however, my curiosity got the better of me and I finally asked her. "Been missing a few blogs, huh?"

"Nope," she said. "They're all there. I just didn't have them show up in the Inbox..."

"She can do that?", I thought.

"There's a box you can click...," she said, reading my thoughts.

Kamote. And just when I thought I was getting ahead...

So, anyways, I soon found myself getting more and more into the groove of blogging. And the amazing thing is, it soon became second nature.

Looking over the blogs I'd written I realize I have covered a wide gamut of topics- from thoughts on church growth and what it means to be a pastor to Mrs. Gary V's time with ABSCBN and my wife's surprising love for our dog.

From my Homiletics class to the new church I'm now pastoring to the rats and cockroaches that share my office...and the words of wisdom that I have gleaned along the way.

>Whew!<

And, lo and behold... I'm done. Finished.

Pass your peppers! Ma'am... mey I go awt?

Photo credit: Alex GB Walker

For the record: my last few blogs:

	Happy 30th Anniversary Kuya Jaren and Ate Rose Lapasaran Posted on Sep 18, '09 6:30 AM for everyone " Kuya Jaren and Ate Rose,There are people who impress us with their words. There are people who impress us with their wealth.There are people who impress us with their skills,..."	0
	la cucarahca Posted on Sep 17, '09 12:35 PM for friends, family and online buddies " yesterday my wife came with me to my 'new' office space to help me with its renovation and improvement.she lost no time sorting out all the accumulated junk and garbage in the roo..."	9
	and now she sleeps Posted on Sep 17, '09 12:34 AM for friends, family and online buddies " sa totoo lang, one of the most rewarding things that i can look forward to in a day is to be able to spend time with my wife.just spend time with her.the great thing about ros..."	5
	Tiny babbols... Posted on Sep 15, '09 11:04 PM for everyone " So, a-kinse di ba? Nakakatawa. May nag-text pa. "O ano p're? Kelan ba 'ko makakatikim ng katas ng tseke mo?"Wahahahaha. Eep it wer nat sow trajik, eet wud ektweli bee p..."	11
	Of all the times to be without a camera... Posted on Sep 14, '09 10:42 PM for friends, family and online buddies " ...it had to be today. Rose and I had our MonDate-cum-monthsary today, and we don't have the pictures to show for it.At first, we were just happy to be chillin' at home..."	9
	Lovin' this great new book I'm reading! Posted on Sep 14, '09 9:58 PM for everyone " happytwit"If you can smile whenever anything goes wrong, you are either a nitwit or a repairman." - LA Times HAHAHAHAHA! I love it! =)less than 20 seconds ago from web"R..."	0
	How do you eat an elephant? Posted on Sep 14, '09 1:00 AM for friends, family and online buddies " It'll be two weeks come tomorrow ["today", thanks to a computer glitch...].And what a challenge-filled two weeks it has been. In my previous non-rant blog I thanked God for His ev..."	1
	Sa wakas. =) Posted on Sep 13, '09 10:57 PM for everyone " Finally saw it. With the fam. In 3-D! w00t! Thank you @cambyman, a.k.a. jmart for the thoughtful text message! Thanks ate "A" for the special tickets! &nb..."	2

...'nuff said.

The Temptation

2009-09-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to capncrisp I had the supreme delight to view this video this morning - a new take on the classic experiment by psychologist Walter Mischel.

Have fun viewing!

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Philippine All Stars' NESTEA TV ad!

2009-09-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

Hip Hop Champs in four continents - Asia, North America, Europe and, just recently, Kenya, Africa!

And now, product endorsers for Nestea Philippines! w00t!

So very proud of you my friends! Keep those fingers pointin' UP!

Micah 6:8!!!

Happy 30th Anniversary Kuya Jaren and Ate Rose Lapasaran

2009-09-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Kuya Jaren and Ate Rose,

There are people who impress us with their words. There are people who impress us with their wealth.

There are people who impress us with their skills, and there are those who impress us with their strength.

But you have impressed us with your life.

In the three decades that you have been man and wife, father and mother to your lovely daughters, and now grandparents to your grandkids, you have both modeled such a well-lived life together that has not only been a blessing but an attraction; a showcase of God's Glory and goodness and a magnet that has caused the compass of many lives to head towards Life's True North. Ours included.

I can honestly say that Rose and I have charted the very course of our life together very much after yours. And though at times we've sought divergent paths, in our heart of hearts, we've been careful to mind that our sails are never far from yours.

In doing so, we've encountered both clear-sailing and rough waters. And the occasional squalls. But through it all, our hearts have been quieted by one thing - thanks in large part to your life-mentoring - the same Captain in command of our ships.

And, God-willing, someday, when we land on the same Peaceful Shores, we shall celebrate our Great Treasure together.

Kuya Ja, ate Rose...thank you. We thank God for you and your family. For such a life well lived together, in thirty years.

We love you! Blessed 30th Anniversary!

Much, much love and prayers for you and your household,

Jesse and Rose Dedel, with Jesi Rose, Charles Keith and Joshua Erickson

Tiny babbols...

2009-09-15T04:04:00.000-07:00

So, a-kinse di ba?

Nakakatawa. May nag-text pa. "O ano p're? Kelan ba 'ko makakatikim ng katas ng tseke mo?"

Wahahahaha. Eep it wer nat sow trajik, eet wud ektweli bee panneh. Eep.

Ang totoo n'yan e wala pa mang sumasayad na papel sa akingmga sabik na palad e, waheheheheheheheheh... ubos na po iyon.

And'yang pam'bayad ng ilaw. And'yang pam'bayad ng talepano. And'tang pambayad ng edukasyon ng aming mga pinakamamahal na mga anakis. At s'yempre, hindi p'wedem'pabayaan si Anit. At si Ayuk. At si Beetee. At si Seepee.

At kung anu-ano pang mga nauna nang mga pinagkalustayan ng mga pinangarap-ngarap na pananalaping kay tagal na pinagsikapa't pinagtiyagaang kitain.

Na ngayo'y nagmistulang bula.

Kanina lamang, kay ganda-gandang lumulutang-lutang sa ere. Kay sarap pagmasdan habang tinatamaan ng sikat ng ginintuang araw na, dahil dito'y tila nababalutan siya ng kumikinang na kumot ng 'san'libo't 'san'laksang kulay.

Napakamakulay. Napakasarap pagmasdan. At sundan ng tingin. Ayun...kumukutikutitap!

At... > POP! < tumama sa pader.

Wala na.

Basiliooooooooo........ Crispiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin........

How do you eat an elephant?

2009-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

It'll be two weeks come tomorrow ["today", thanks to a computer glitch...].

And what a challenge-filled two weeks it has been. In my previous non-rant blog I thanked God for His ever-sufficient grace, which has kept me and several other people standing 'neath the load of incredible, incredible pressure.

Tonight I just want to thank Him for helping me keep a clear focus and a sober mind. Like I told my UFC fighter-friend yesterday, I suppose one of the greatest needs of a UFC fighter is the ability to keep a clear sense of bearing after being severely, ferociously hit from all sides. No wonder the first thing a referee asks a boxer after he regains consciousness is, "Where are you?"

Peter said as much to the readers of his epistles, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled..." In other words, be sober.

I thank God for sobriety, a "steadfast mind".

This of course comes from two things: 1) A fixed gaze upon Him and 2) the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, at work in us, providing "power, love and sound mind."

Another thing I want to thank Him for is the favor He has given me with the people I now get to work with - some of the best people in the world!

Today, after service, I had the chance to talk to the key leaders and volunteer workers of MHCC. Basically, I asked them to work with me. I asked them to keep our communication channels open. To let me know of any and all needs, no matter how seemingly trivial. This is essential if our team is to function like a healthy, fit body - with sensitivity and responsiveness. No numbness of the extremities, no sluggishness.

Lastly, I thank God that He continues to raise up prayer warriors and spiritual back-up support in the wings. Just tonight, I called a pastor friend to invite him to come help us in an upcoming church activity. Even before I could tell him my request he asked me, "How are you? I've been praying for you." And then it hit me!

"Of course! The reason why I've been able to keep a clear head all this time is because people have been praying for me. For us!"

Thank You, Lord!

More and more, I am coming to realize just how daunting a challenge this new, god-given opportunity really is. Like the proverbial elephant, there's simply an overwhelming amount of "meat on the table". Sometimes, just the thought of it can be intimidating enough.

But just like the proverbial elephant, all these challenges can and shall be faced and resolved "one bite at a time."

After all, with God on our side, nothing is impossible.

On miracles

2009-09-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

He is "...the same yesterday, today and forever." - Heb. 13:8

"He" is the God of the OT and the NT. His Book, the Bible, is replete with miracles - from the parting of the Red Sea to the casting out of demons to the healing of the sick by the passing of Peter's shadow.

And yet today the question is asked, "Are there still miracles in this day and age?"

To ask this question is to ask if God has changed, in disposition at best, in character and power at worst, in the course and passing of time.

Personally, I believe that God is neither diminished in power nor inutile. to the contrary, I am firmly secure and certain that He is still able to part seas, raise corpses back to life and cause the lame to come away form their mats "walking and leaping and praising God".

So why doesn't He?

I believe that we can find clues to the unravelling of this riddle from Scripture itself.

It is written that Jesus could not perform as many miracles as He could have in a certain town because of the faith of the people therein.

When people argue against miracles they usually do so from the apparent absence of such. No miracles, they say, therefore no more miracles.

But the coelecanth was long thought extinct until they found living specimens in some Amazon river. All of a sudden, they were no longer just prehistoric things of the past but living specimens of the present.

Interestingly enough, such things are actually referred to as "Lazarus taxa" [pl., /sing. - "taxon"], after the biblical character Lazarus.

Then some say, "well how come the only places we ever hear about alleged 'miracles' are form such far-flung place like Africa or in the mountains and jungles far from the city? rubbish!", they say.

And yet when we hear about certain plants and herbs that have incredible healing faculties and find out that they only thrive in certain climates and conditions we simply say that such is true - the climate plays a great part in the cultivation of such a healing thing. Could it be that the spiritual climate in these "sophisticated times" is just as non-conducive to the working of miracles?

I have also been reminded of the distinctives that divide one church from another - Pentecostals from Baptists, Conservatives from Reformed.

My question is this - are not miracles, casting out of demons and even speaking in tongues in Scripture?

Ah, but accommodatingly say, "Yes but these have ceased." We're back to the coelecanth. Then they go on to say, "These have ceased because the 'greater revelation' has finally been completed - the whole canon of Scripture."

Alright then. Let me ask, which is a more complete revelation, Scripture in its entirety or the full, face to face Glory of God unveiled? And yet, did not Lucifer become satan the accuser in spite of his having beheld the fulness of His Glory in Heaven?

If such a full revelation was not a deterrent to rebellion, are we not being arrogant in saying that just because we now have the whole Bible mankind can no longer benefit from the manifestation of God's glory and power wrought through miraculous signs and wonders?

So, then, why do we not see such miracles in our day and age? Could it be that we have simply given up on ever seeing them prematurely?

Remember that the Lord Jesus, knowing full well of his good friend Lazarus' fatal illness, refused to take one step towards him until after his death, and, even then, only until after a good four days?

[Read the full story here]

When He arrived, apparently too late, He walked straight into the understandable despair and not-quite-veiled, twice-expressed accusation of His tardiness that resulted in Lazarus' untimely demise.

It was at this juncture, not sooner nor later, that Jesus asked to be taken to the now-rotting corpse and commanded that the grave's stone be removed...and called forth Lazarus out from the grave and back into the land of the living.

In the apostle Paul's case, another apparent failure of a miracle to manifest, his thorn was thrice refused from removal by God Himself because He plainly told Paul that He had a greater purpose and end in mind - that His Grace may be revealed sufficient for Paul.

[Consider: Was Paul really simply after relief?]

So where are we now?

C.S. Lewis, in his immortal classic, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" set the unfolding adventure of the four Pevensie siblings in Narnia, during a time when it was trapped in a perpetual winter by the evil magic of the White Witch.

It took the powerful return of its rightful King, Aslan the Lion, to restore Narnia back to its rightfully verdant and vivacious glory. Aslan needed only to breathe back life into her and all of her inhabitants.

I believe that we, in this cynical day and age, are in need of a similar "breathing upon". What this age, and our hearts, needs is the Divine Breath from the sweet, life-giving King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

We need to humble ourselves, lay aside our rationalizations and simply acknowledge God in all His undiminished power and glory.

The minute we do so, I truly believe that the miracles shall begin.

Where were you?

2009-09-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

They say you never forget where you were at the time it happened.

I know I can't.

We were at my nephew's house next door. It was a Tuesday night, that much I'm certain. Bible study back then was always on a Tuesday night. Pastor El Tendero and his wife, ate Mariz, would come over with a fresh Word from Scripture and, in the interest of healthy living, a bag of R. Lapid's chicharon, the kind that came with the reddish vinegar.

We were all there - the Tenderos, Kenneth and his family, my family and I, and if I'm not mistaken even my brother David and his daughters were there. I know my niece Bev and her husband Jim were there. You'll know why later.

As was our custom, we would first have table fellowship [read: eat a lot of food] before the Bible study proper. All this time the living room TV would be open for anyone who would care to watch in-between bites of food and snippets of conversation with whoever was paying attention. That was when I saw the action film on TV.

It was the scene where a plane was flying straight into a building. "Hmmm...now what film is that?" I thought, "I think I've seen that film..."

I moved closer to the screen. And that was when I saw the letters "CNN" on the corner of the screen. And the small, flashing word on another corner -"Live!"

Oh. My. Lord. This was no movie. This was breaking news. I listened more intently. From the corner of my eye, I saw that the eyes of the other people in the room with me were also riveted to the screen. We were watching America being attacked. By God knows what.

The now-familiar video clip was already playing over and over - "Filmed earlier", said the screen. It was the sight of the first plane crashing into what was the north tower of the World Trade Center. Then, the view would switch over to the live feed.

Offscreen, an announcer was trying to supply color commentary to the horror that was unfolding on screen. You could tell that, even as the announcer was trying to bravely do so, his voice was faltering and he, himself, was at a loss as to what to say.

Then it happened. Live, on air, for all the world to see, United flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the WTC.

That was when it hit me. We were watching a world at war. America was being attacked. And if America was not safe from attack, no one was.

I could feel the cold fingers of fear climbing up my spine. I looked around and saw everyone's faces. The expression on my niece's face was one of mounting dread.

A few minutes more, the north tower collapsed for all the world to see. By now, everyone was speechless from disbelief. And fear.

That was when pastor El shattered the silence and read boldly from Scripture,

When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:
" 'Woe! Woe, O great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin! "

~ Rev. 18:18, 19

And all of a sudden, at least in my heart - I can't speak for everyone else's - the whole frightening scenario became significantly less frightening. God's Word had been consulted, and God's Word had, yet again, risen to the occasion and provided a defining frame for the chaotic portrait we had just beheld.

And I was amazed.

Truly, truly... nothing takes God by surprise. Not even the impossibly foreseeable attack of misguided agents of terror on the earth's mightiest nation.

September 11, 2001 went down in history that day as yet another "day of infamy". It's memory will forever be etched in my mind, and in the minds of thousands, even millions of people's minds. And they, we, will never forget. Where we were. What we were doing. What we all felt.

And I shall never forget one more thing: in the midst of one of the most terror-filled moments in my life...God was Present. And His Word brought comfort to my soul.

Grace under pressure.

2009-09-09T04:47:00.000-07:00

Today, 090909, marks my 9th day as >ahem< senior pastor.

Funny. I've never had those words hung around my neck before. And, to be honest, they're heavier than I always thought they would be.

If there is one thing I am learning now with increasing force it is this: "It's easier to criticize leaders when you're not the one at the lead."

Hoo-boy am I learning this.

Am I ranting here? Nope. Merely stating a fact, thank you.

The amazing thing is that, through it all, I am also coming to prove a Scriptural principle true in my life: "In times of God-allowed adversity His Grace is sufficient indeed."

The illustration of a Coke can really helps. Any child can crumple an empty Coke can but it would take considerable force and pressure to crumple a full, unopened can.

Why? Because the pressure from outside the can is met and matched by the counter-pressure of the Coke inside the can. It would take greater pressure from the outside before the can and its contents will finally give way.

Scripture says that "Greater is He Who is in you..."

This is why I am so thankful that in the face of all the newfound challenges that come part and parcel with the new "neck ornaments" I am able to stay focused and calm.

Thanks to The One Who Indwells me, I am now enjoying experiencing the truth that was expressed by the apostle Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians.

And I am, strangely enough, enjoying it.

I am now fully convinced that God never makes a mistake when He calls and anoints anyone for ministry. You see, I have never been a graceful man, neither in build nor in motion. But by the power of the Holy Spirit Who is Greater Than any crisis or commotion, I am happily walking in the sweet shade of God's sufficient grace, and I am finding the strength to withstand the pressures from without. And I am doing so... gracefully.

So much so that I have been able to face and respond to the challenges and surprises that come with this new responsibility that has been entrusted to me with surprising [for me!] calm and confidence.

Truly, where God guides, He provides - and not just finances. we're talking wisdom, insight, foresight, cool and collected composure, real inner peace, favor with men.

And grace to withstand the pressure.

God our Sanctuary

2009-09-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

¹³ The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,

¹⁴ and he will be a sanctuary...

~Isaiah 8:13,14a

Last night, in our weekly prayer meeting at their home, my pastor-nephew Ken share about something that the Lord had been dealing with him for the last 5 years or so.

He spoke about how God had revealed to him about his [and our] tendency to retreat into a 'safe place' in his soul - a place where, when he's in it, he feels in control and, well, safe.

He said that this tendency to retreat into this 'safe place' takes many forms - addictions, bad habits, defense mechanisms to mask insecurities, etc. Whatever form it may take and however it may manifest, these 'safe places' are really nothing more than our weak attempts to maintain a semblance of order and a false sense of security about ourselves.

But when push comes to shove, these things will keep us safe just about as well as those fig leaves were able to hide Adam's and Eve's nakedness.

Bottom line, God will not allow us to have any safe have apart from Himself. He will 'not rest' until He has made it clear to us that it is to Him and Him alone that we need to run for cover, for safety, for security, for only He was, is, and ever shall be in total control of everything. All other appearances of "control" are but illusions.

Rather than fear men, we are to fear God. For when we do, we need not fear anything or anyone else.

Rather than turn to men for acknowledgment, appreciation, validation or approval let us fix our gaze upon Jesus, the true Author and Perfecter of our Faith. It is He Who has promised to finish the good work that He Himself began.

Rather than run to men for security, comfort, consolation or even vindication let us remember that it is our God alone Who can, and will, rescue, redeem and lift us up from our dire straits and in the eyes of men.

With God we have nothing to hide and nothing to prove. We, everyone of us, stand before him naked and defenseless. And yet, instead of judging or condemning us, He loves us. And heals us.

And keeps us safe.

Truly, God and God alone is our 'safe place'. He is the Fortress of our lives, the Shield of our Faith and the Sanctuary of our soul.

Brad Pit.

2009-09-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Bat drip. Brat dip. Bard tip.

Gets?

----

Kahapon. Early morning, heavy meeting. As in.

Everything was going well until someone started taking candy inventory.

>sigh...<

Someone's peace fell apart. The table was pounded. A voice quivered.

Tears flowed.

Someone left in a huff.

So close. So close.

Bat drip. Brat dip. Bard tip.

Still.. God is Sovereign! God intervened.

And broken pieces were gathered and held together. By His Grace.

Thank You, Lord.

Went home. Family time.

Spoke with my earthly 'strength and shield' and best-er half.

Words unloaded. Words received.

Words of comfort, words of strength; words of satin, words of steel.

Wise words, Life words.

Thank You. And thank you.

Went to see 'UP', finally. Been really wanting to, for months now.

Clicked the city. Saw the listings. Checked the time, checked the place.

"All set!"

Had dinner. Took the fam, hailed a cab, headed for the mall.

Sent Josh on ahead to buy the tickets while Chuck and Rose bought munchies.

Jesi slow-walked with her dad.

Got to the cinema. No 'UP'.

Turns out it was one'a those funny time listings - 12noon-2pm: UP | 5pm-9pm: District 9

No. 'UP'.

And I so looked forward to it. I badly need upliftment....

Bat drip. Brat dip. Bard tip.

Sooooooooooo.....

Gave the kids the munchies.

Kids saw the aliens, my wife and I sat on a bench and talked.

And talked.

Decided to take our chat to Max's.

So we went. And ordered the sweet stuff.

And talked.

....

They closed at 10, the kids wouldn't be done 'til past 11.

So Rose and I went home. And left the kids to the prawns.

Maulan.

Got home. Long day. Tiring. Lotsa humps.

Bat drip. Brat dip. Bard tip.

Pero hindi rin.

Mabuti pa rin ang Dios.

At, katapus-tapusan, tiyak na tiyak, panalo pa rin Siya.

Huwag lang ako patatalo.

Kay Brad Pit.

LIFE GIVING - Evotional.com

2009-09-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

By Mark Batterson

It's hard to quantify or classify this, but the intangible litmus testwhen it comes to churches is this: is it life-giving? What do I mean by that? I simply mean the worship and the message and the relationshipsbreathe life into your soul. I'm assuming it's Bible-believing andChrist-centered. I'm assuming theological orthodoxy. When you walk out of church, do you feel more full of life?

Jesus said, "I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly." That was his mission. And missional churches are life-giving churches. Not sure how else to say it. And I'm not sure it's something we even know how to wrap our words around. But you know whether a church is life-giving or not. And I think it determines whether you want to go back again.

Link

Indakan sa Makati Hoop!

2009-09-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

Today I was formally inducted as the senior pastor of Makati Hope Christian Church (MHCC).

Several friends actually visited the church to be there for me and my family [sans Charles Keith, their class had a field trip to Mt. Banawe] - Cristy, Doris and Dois from MCP; Ptr. Joey Reyes, good friend from my JOHIA days but now with KBCF; my former boss from Creative Synergy, Inc. (CSI) Erick Fabian and his family; and the Greys - kuya Chip, ate Anne, Mia and Cheska from my beloved ICS. Seeing their faces in the congregation made the special ceremony even more so.

Coming to the sanctuary I walked in on the worship team as they were giving their line up a final run through. I called them together, introduced myself to them as their new shepherd and informed them that, as the church's Levites, we were a team laboring together to "bring down" God's Presence and usher the brethren into it. We held hands and offered the service to God in prayer.

I got to share a simple but powerful Word that I first shared in ICS tow years ago. If memory serves me right, I had also preached the same message already in MHCC before. I just sensed that I had to preach it again this morning.

As I told the brethren today, "Never before have I had such a personal stake in any of the churches I have previously served because I have never been 'senior' [pastor]. So I need for you to all come with me to Page One..."

I spoke on "What is the Church? What Does God Want It To Do?" I believe God blessed His Word and caused it to be planted in the hearts of men.

When I was done speaking, the MHCC Board of Deacons called my family to stand with me by the pulpit. Bro. Michael LIm read a passage from Scripture, 1 Timothy 3:1,2. Then he solemnly charged me to live by this biblical standard for overseers of the church. Ptr. Steven Dime, MHCC's administrative pastor led the Board and the congregation in praying for me and my family.

After the service everyone had a great meal together. I had the pleasure of seeing some of the most beloved friends and family in our life come together from different times and places of our Journey with Him.

THANK YOU LORD for this incredible, terrifying, exciting, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping privilege and opportunity to see Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done in and through the hearts and lives of the brethren of MHCC.

Two ates and a mom - a wedding, a funeral and a future

2009-09-05T02:41:00.000-07:00

[ in photo, among others: Ate Tessie and Enan, myself and Rose]

Woke up the chickens this morning. And my family.

We had to get an early headstart to go to my nephew Enan's wedding in Pulilan, Bulacan. The trip wasn't so bad, although we did end up donating a borrowed wedding barong to an unsuspecting cabbie... OY!

All that unwanted tension dissolved when I finally saw my nephew and his bride march down the aisle and heard their vows of love to each other. "Ako, si ______, ay nangangakong magmamahal sa'yo..."

He said it to her so formal-like, I thought he was gonna say "Ako, si _____, ay nangangako bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas..."

I was so happy for my Ate Tessie. Looking at her now, you woulodn't believe she gave birth to my nephew during one of the darkest moments of her life. Oh yeah, she used to live on the wild side, did I tell you? My ate's story is one for the books, or a telenovela. Name it, she's done it - drugs, prostitution, immorality - she's been there and bought everything.

Along the way, she got married, had kids, got separated, met my nephew's dad and gave him two sons, sans marriage. Then they separated and she continued to bask in darkness until God finally cornered her, saved her and got her settled down with the one guy who's loved her still, all throughout her crazy ride on the wild side.

It's okay, she tells her story most everywhere she goes. Now that she's the de facto youth minister in their church, and her many children, and now her children's children, are the majority of the youth workers, her story's not exactly a well-kept secret. In fact her story goes by another name: testimony.

Which brings me to my point: seeing her son march down the aisle, Ate Tess whispered to my ear, "Now I get to see my children given in marriage." Something she didn't get to experience until much, much later, and only by God's Supreme Grace and Mercy.

And what of her erstwhile partner, my nephew's dad? Well, he practically flushed his life down the toilet. But when my sister got saved, redeemed and lifted by the power of God's transforming Love, she turned riught around and ministered to him.

And today, there he was, all cleaned up, in a nice barong himself, and watching his son get married. My thoughts? "Such is the power of God's Amazing Grace."

From that wedding, my wife and I let our kids go home while we travelled straight from Pulilan to Taguig. This time we were going to minister to our forever-secretary, Ate Lolit, by mourning with her and her family for the inevitable loss of her mom, who died at the ripe old age of 80.

In the abruptness of the event, and in their dire financial straits, she had rented a nearby open court / municipal function hall to hold the funeral for her late mom's remains. It was quite clean and orderly, newly painted, freshly scrubbed tile floors, clean commode-and-faucet restroom, bright flourescent lighting.

The amazing thing was the backstory - when they frist saw the place the entire hall was a mess. Dirty floors, drab, soot-darkened walls, filthy restroom, no lights.

Ate Lolit's family and neighbors had actually scrubbed, painted, wired and fixed up the whole place in a record-breaking three hours. When the local officials saw what Lolit and her small army of believers had done with their hall...they didn't have the heart to charge her rent anymore. 'Kung ano na lang po ang gusto ninyong ibigay..."

My thoughts? "Even in the face of Death itself, God's children bring literal light and order to the dark, filthy places of the world. Such is the power of the Kingdom-transformed."

Right now, I am typing these words in Mommy Lorie's home. From the funeral, Rose and I zoomed straight here, to meet with MCP's national leaders and to finalize and polish the plans for this year's convergence, which will be held in Laoag in October.

Already, I have been wowed and blessed by Mom Lorie's amazing post-cancer testimonies of how God has used, and continues to use her to bring strength, encouragement and hope to churches all over the nation and in Asia. To think that when she and I first met I never would have pegged her to be one of the staunchest allies of Master's Commission! Listening to her, one would have a hard time believing she had already lost one breast to cancer.

My thoughts? "Such life, such strength, such a sure hope!"

This morning in the wedding, Mom Lori was one of the principal sponsors, Jesi was the emcee, Charles was the male sponsor for the veil. many of the other wedding participants were members of MC Pulilan, The wedding singer was from MC Light of the World.

Our MC family has grown, in age and in stature.

Tonight, here in Mommy's house, the leaders are at the dining table, hungrily consuming pancit. They've just arrived from Pulilan and are famished. When they're done eating, we shall lay down plans for MC in the near future.

What a good, long, blessed day! So full of life, power and triumph. And hope-filled plans for the future!

Okay, they're done eating. Gotta go! The meeting's starting...

On Decision Making - Rick Warren tweets

2009-09-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

30 yrs ago I cut "impossible" out of my dictionary because its not in God's vocab."With God all things are possible"Mt19:2622 minutes ago from web
When Kennedy said "We're going to the moon" it was still impossible.Never confuse decisionmaking & problemsolving.27 minutes ago from web
Make the decision THEN solve the problems."if you wait 4 perfect conditions you'll never get anything done."Eccl 11:4(NLT)29 minutes ago from web

For the Love of God

2009-09-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

... we stay on.

... we pray on. And press on.

... we endure.

... we make sacrifices.

... we choose to forgive.

... we overlook past offenses and hurts.

... we take the best blows of the evil one, shake them off and move on in love.

... we try our best to still see the good in others, regardless.

... we refuse to give up on a person, no matter how unruly, insincere or untrustworthy he or she has been in the past, many times over.

... we call upon the Holy Spirit and ask for His sustaining grace and enablement when the battle gets too tough and our vision gets too clouded.

... we unite in purpose, prayer and passion to see His Kingdom come, His will be done and his Name alone be glorified.

... we stand steadfast upon His Word, banking on His Promises.

... we humble ourselves and let others have their way - for the greater good.

... we remember that "it" isn't just about us, but about many others.

... we understand that nothing we do in faith is futile or lost. For what we sow, we shall reap.

... we refuse to stand in judgment of others. Or give up on them just yet.

... we continue to Hope.

... we continue to trust and obey.

And believe.

That, when everything is said and done, God shall have His Way.

That, regardless of what may have transpired in the past, we shall see that nothing was without a purpose or plan.

That everything was worth it.

That God is truly Sovereign Lord above all things, times, places, people and circumstances.

That the Best is yet to come!

===

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

~ 1 Cor. 15:58

In the presence of my enemy

2009-09-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Rose and I had just finished watching a movie tonight when I saw my friend's text - his son got mugged just as he was about to enter their front gate.

The muggers, three teenage boys - took the boy's bag which contained his dad's [my friend's] laptop [a Macbook]. His son had borrowed it from him to use in their class group's presentation.

I called my friend as soon as I could, we we finally got home. I asked about his son; then I asked him how he was. His son was better, he said. Poor kid, he was distraught about losing his dad's computer and was afraid he would get scolded.

"How can I scold you"", my friend said to his son. "You are worth more to me than things lost." My heart went out to the boy. And to my friend, a fellow-dad.

It's true, you see. Now that I am a father myself, I really know and believe that nothing is worth more that the life, safety and well-being of any member of my family.

The elders of my youth used to say, "Di bale nang manakawan ng sampung beses, wag lang masunugan ng isang beses."

To that I would add, "O mabawian ng isang buhay."

After having talked to my friend at length, and having satisfied myself that he and his son are doing fine, my thoughts immediately turned to my family.

I noted that it was past 10 and Jesi was not yet home. I rang her cellphone - no reply [turns out I hit my wife's speed dial number by force of habit]. Happily, I heard our daughter's voice chattering animatedly in our living room just a few minutes after my futile call.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Mentally, I shrugged off the heavy burden of anxiety.

I told my wife about my friend's text. "Oh my," she said. I assured her they were both fine.

She relaxed.

I had just plopped onto our bed and was about to conk out when the thought hit me - I should call for a short family meeting. So I did.

I was going to talk to them about the day's challenge. My sojourn to the Valley of Elah had not been as dramatic as I had foreseen it. Nonetheless, a giant was faced. And warned.

But my "harrowing plight" was nothing compared to what my friend surely had to endure - extreme anxiety, fear and worry all distilled in such a short moment of time - his travel time from work to home, where his son was still distraught.

My intent was to thank the Lord for our kids' safety and to remind them that our Journey, though enjoyable and blessing-filled, was still a warfare. And an enemy is still on the prowl.

In the middle of our talk my cellphone rang. It was my friend.

"He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies", he said, quoting a verse from the Shepherd's Psalm.

"Amen," I said.

"It just struck me," he continued. "At that point in the psalm, it shifts perspectives - from 'the shepherd's sheep' to 'the shepherd's guest'. As the host, the shepherd prepares a feast for his guest, whom he has welcomed into his tent."

"In the Bedouin custom of those times, for as long as a guest is in his host's tent, he not only enjoys his host's hospitality but also his protection. If anyone should try to harm the host's guest, he would have the host whole caravan to contend with," he said.

"I thank God that He had 'prepared a feast' for my son..."

"In the presence of his enemies," I thought.

I was amazed at my friend's fortitude. And comforted by his steadfast faith. I shared his thoughts to my family and we prayed.

---

Thank You, Lord!

You are our Shepherd. You alone are our strength and shield.

Our very Present Help in time of trouble.

You are The One Who keeps us safe from the evil one.

Indeed, You prepare a table for us even in the presence of our enemies.

And our hearts and minds are at peace from knowing You.

~ Selah.

In the Valley of Elah

2009-09-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in every man's life when he must do what he was meant to do. Such are the moments that either make or break a man. Such are the moments that define him.

God moments.

We find several of these in the Bible: Abram packing up his whole life and leaving Ur at God's say so. Noah picking up the hammer and chisel after being warned of the coming Deluge. Israel wrestling the Angel of the Lord...and losing. Moses taking off his sandals before the Burning Bush. Joshua fearfully stepping up to take over Moses' vacancy.

And perhaps, the most famous of all - David finding himself before a giant in the valley of Elah.

He didn't set out to pick a fight. He simply obeyed his father's orders to bring some food for his warrior-brothers who were doing everything but fight. And seeing the fight and finding none in it, David stepped up to the plate and into his God moment.

And Israel, and all of history since then until today, would never forget that "one brief shining moment" that would flash blindingly from the valley and on into the collective memories of all of mankind for as long as there are those who will tell of its story.

Since then, so many men and women, in so many other times and places, have found themselves in Elah, face to face with their personal Goliath.

For some, the fight was as public and as furious as David's was. For many, many countless others, their God-moment was in the privacy of a bedroom. Or a boardroom. Or in the lonely chambers of their very own heart.

Only God knows how many truly slew, and how many others were really slain.

God moments. They either make us or break us. Either way, they reveal who we really are, what we're really made of.

Tomorrow, I go to Elah.

I HATE RATS!

2009-09-01T05:36:00.000-07:00

In "Raiders of the Lost Ark" there is a scene where intrepid archeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones and his sidekick Sallah are about to go down into what is an ancient burial chamber.

Peering into thick darkness he decides to drop the torch he is carrying to better see the place he is about to enter. A few moments later the room is lit by the crude flashlight. Sallah squints his eyes hard as he stares into the chamber and says, "Indy... why is the floor moving?"

With a shudder, Indy groans and says, "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes? I HATE snakes."

Well, I hate rats.

Honest to goodness, give me a snake any day over a rat. Why? Because snakes are relatively clean whereas rats are filthy! And they have fleas. What's so bad about fleas, you ask? Two words - bubonic plague.

And if you leave snakes alone, chances are they'll leave you alone. Not so with rats. Those things'll creep on you. And nibble on you. Ask my wife. She came from very humble origins. Their house used to be right in fron of an open sewer. At night rats would crawl in from the sewer into their house. And nibble on some of them.

And I'm not talking cute little lab-sized rats here friends, I'm talking rats the size of cats. Heck, even the cats would run away from 'em.

Ugghhhh...just having that mental image go through my brain while writing about makes me....UUUGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

I hate rats so much it made me do the unthinkable! It made me, dare I say it?, not like the Pixar movie "Ratatouille". I mean, everything was fine until....until...that scene where the crazed grandma is shooting into the ceiling and brings down the whole rat colony hiding inside it.

Or, how about that scene where Remy, the rat-hero, has all his rat family 'n' friends take over the kitchen..... Ewwww.......!

I felt so bad while watching that movie because I wanted so much to love it just as much as I had loved its Pixar-Brad Bird predecessor, "The Incredibles" and Bird's other film, "The Iron Giant"!

Alas, I could not. Because of those blasted rats!

Now, you may be wondering what I'm doing ranting about rats at midnight. Well, there's really a fairly simple explanation - I found out today, on my very first day at my new pastorate, that the one thing that comes with my new office space is...rats.

As in cat-sized rats...suddenly scampering across the floor form some underground hole they'd already dug sometime ago. I haven't seen any of them today, you see. But I've been told that it's not a matter of "if" I see them but "when".

Already the horror stories abounded - apparently, one time during Friday night youth service, one of those nasty critters scampered across the church hall, through the roomful of church youth. As Joseph put it so eloquently one time in a tweet - all the boys discovered their feminine side.

Or how about the doozy of a time when one rat just jumped out of one of the upright AC units during another fellowship time, scaring one young lady sheet-white.

And, of course, there was that other time during Sunday worship service that a rat scampered up into the ceiling just behind the drummer's area.

Not good.

Nooooooooooooooooooot good.

And so I am now on a hunt. A rat hunt. Check that: on a hunt for rats.

Well, not me personally. Our kindly maintenance man, mang Nilo is, vicariously. On my behalf. I had him inspect all the possible rat-entrances and told him to request a ton of quick-dry cement to plug all those holes up.

I will also be requesting a 10,000 volt perimeter fence dug and built around my office space. Hah! Let's see those critters make their way into that one.

Of course, the youth and the other church members may have trouble coming in to see me, say for counseling or whatever. But what does it matter? I must be rid of those rats.

Otherwise, I may not be able to function well as a pastor. I mean, we Pentecostals can face any demon, stare them down and cast them out in His Name!

But you can't cast out rats.

Of all the things in the world that could'a come with this new gig.. why'd it hafta be rats?

I hate rats.

Heard...

2009-08-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to

God what is God's."

~Jesus

Disney buys Marvel for 4B!

2009-08-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

In what is probably the greatest entertainment coup of this century "The House of the Mouse" will acquire The House of Marvel for a whopping $4B!

I had actually 'signed off' for the day but when I saw the tweet from Marvel's official Twitter page I went "Whoa."

I don't know if this means anything to anyoen reading this post but for a comicbook / animation / fantasy geek like me this kind of news ranks right up there with the discovery of Penicillin!

You see this means that my top 2 idols for imagination and storytelling - the great Walt Disney and the incredible Stan Lee - are finally united in one awesome, possibilities-filled universe! Not since the tandem of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas has there even been a Hollywood match of these proportions taken place.

The possibilities are endless - Spiderman meets Mickey Mouse! Donald Duck can finally square off with Howard the Duck [yes the Lucasian flop was actually a Marvel character!], and the X-Men can now team up with Buzz Lightyear and his Star Command!

Throw in Pixar into the mix and...AND... omigosh! Oh. My. Gawrsh!!!!

I must calm down.

This is just great news. Great news indeed!

===

Image source: SCREENRANT

Life Words - Summary

2009-08-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

For time and convenience's sake, here's the short 'n' sweet of my longer blog!

===

Words of wisdom, words to bet your life on. Life Words.

1. "If the Lord sees it fit, you shall have it; if not, you don't need it." - Rev. Eliezer Tendero.

2. "Character is who you are when no one is looking." - C.H. Spurgeon.

3. "Would it not look funny if I tried to keep standing when the Lord wants me to fall?" - "A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards.

4. "The purposes of the Lord cannot be thwarted." - Rev. Jaren Lapasaran.

5. "God does not expect much of a man; He just wants all of him." - Rev. Lloyd Zeigler.

6. "I don't ever want to maintain a ministry, I want to lead one." - Also from Lloyd.

7. "Don't let your talent take you where your character can't keep you!" - Nina Atuatasi-Poole.

8. "[We serve a God of] No Limits!" - Inspired by Luke 1:37

9. "Well I pledge my head to Heaven for the Gospel / And I ask no man on Earth to fill my needs..." - Keith Green

10. "To be right, we must think right." - A.W. Tozer

What Life Words have you lived by?

Life Words

2009-08-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Got this gem of a quote / life-principle / Tweet from Pastor Steve Murrell this morning:

"HONOR GOD: in private, at home, through work."

Now that's wisdom - short, sweet, substantial.

Thinking about this gold nugget of Solomonic wisdom made me remember a few other quote-worthies from various sources, usually mentors or favorite authors, that have strengthened and guided me on my Journey, as well as navigate through the many minefields of this earthly sod.

Words of wisdom, words to bet your life on. Life Words.

1. "If the Lord sees it fit, you shall have it; if not, you don't need it." - I got this from Rev. Eliezer Tendero, godfather to Rose and I and family pastor of the Dedel clan

2. "Character is who you are when no one is looking." - This quote is attributed to C.H. Spurgeon, the 'Prince of Preachers'.

3. "Would it not look funny if I tried to keep standing when the Lord wants me to fall?" - fictitious words from King David's mouth during the time Absalom was trying to usurp his throne, from the little-known masterpiece of a book "A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards

4. "The purposes of the Lord cannot be thwarted." - I got this when my kuya-pastor/mentor/'tatay' Jaren Lapasaran prayed for me early this year when I arrived in LAX. We had just gotten into his car, I was an emotional wreck. He put his hand on mine and we prayed. As soon as he uttered these words, I felt a wave of comfort, strength and assurance that the Lord was indeed with me.

5. "God does not expect much of a man; He just wants all of him." - These words were spoken to me when we were in a missions bus Myanmar in 1999 by Rev. Lloyd Zeigler, pastor of the Relevant Church and spiritual director of the worldwide warrior-movement Master's Commission. And my friend, 'Z'.

6. "I don't ever want to maintain a ministry, I want to lead one." - Another earth-moving declaration from Z!

7. "Don't let your talent take you where your character can't keep you!" - I heard this one from Nina Atuatasi-Poole, wife of Matt Poole. Together they are the Worship and Creative Pastors of Relevant Church. Nina was one of the original 10 MC students who got MC Philippines - Asia started back in 1996, when we were still in Jesus Our Hope International Ministries.

8. "[We serve a God of] No Limits!" - Taking inspiration from Luke 1:37, the Lord spoke these words to me during a missions conference in Quezon City. Our taking hold of this single declaration was responsible for us as a group seeing the mighty Hand of God move in many,mighty ways to bring MC to the forefront of the worldwide missions movement. I consider this my personal "Prayer of Jabez" revelation form the Lord.

9. "Well I pledge my head to Heaven for the Gospel / And I ask no man on Earth to fill my needs..." - I still get a lump in my throat every time I sing/think/write these words. They are some of the most powerful lyrics ever penned by modern man, in my opinion. Again, in my opinion, next to King David of Israel, Keith Green would most probably be Heaven's singing prophet of choice. If you haven't picked up any of his CD's yet, you owe it to yourself to do so!

10. "To be right, we must think right." - This is my personal favorite as of late, a short but powerful statement from the pen of my all-time favorite non-Biblical author, Aiden Wilson Tozer.

There are many, many more Life Words that I have encountered in my 43-year Journey. But for now, these should suffice.

What Life Words have you lived by?

What do you say?

2009-08-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

You walk into a roomful of people you half-expected to be there. But not really.

And yet, there they are.

Then it dawns on you - they're here for you. All of them. On a busy Friday night. They could all have been someplace else. But no. They were all there. And they've been there, waiting.

For you.

Then, when you finally get settled in, they start speaking. About you. About how you've been this and that and that and this. To them.

Then they start thanking you. They start thanking God for you. For your life. For who you are and what you've done.

I used to watch stuff like this on TV. "Tributes", they called it. "Roasts", even. Usually some really special person would be the subject of it. The butt of the jokes told therein. The reason for all the hoopla.

People like Dolphy or Bob Hope. Jerry Lewis or Dean Martin. You know... old people.

Or Michael Jackson. Or Elvis. You know...dead people.

You don't usually expect this kind of thing to happen. Not to you. Not while you're living.

But it has.

I mean, there they are. They're all there. And they're talking about you.

What do you do? How do you respond?

What do you say?

"Thank you."

Better yet, "Thank You."

Thank You, Lord! Because, for everything said and everything appreciated, behind it all was You. You, Lord are the true Reason why people even see anything noteworthy in our lives.

You are the One Who truly deserves everything that was said and expressed by gracious words from grateful hearts. You alone deserve all the glory and praise.

And so, Lord, we say, as one family -

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us

but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness."

~ Ps. 115:1

=====

Hey gang,

Thanks for everything! We truly are blessed!

We love you, ICS family!

~ Ptr. Jesse, Rose, Jesi, Charles and Josh Dedel

The Homies take their MidTerms

2009-08-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

On of the new challenges I have been blessed to undertake as of late is to teach a Homiletics class for a Bible school nearby.

Since the start of this schoolyear, I have been >ehem< "Prof. Dedel" to six students, all male. There used to be eight but one, the lone female, dropped out early and I had to drop the other one due to conflicts in his schedules as he has to work.

In this class I get to teach "the art and science of sermon preparation". Happily, we've been having a blast!

For their Prelims I had my students stand up and preach their sermons one at a time. Talk about discipleship! It was a great privilege for me to see these men slowly but surely hone and improve their God-given skills. We hadn't been together for a month but already they had exhibited noticeable improvement. In fact, the one student that I was afraid would have a difficult time ended up being the most improved!

Today, for their Mid Terms, I decided to let them off easy by giving them a 9-point written exam. They're all quiet right now. You'd think they were in a library or something.

Do pray for them, that the Lord would raise them up to be mighty men of God, boldly and skillfully proclaiming His Word from behind a pulpit or on the streets and sidewalks of the world.

[pics to follow]

An evening with Mrs. Pure Energy!

2009-08-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had the privilege of listening to the testimony [preaching?] of a true-blooded woman of God, Ms. Angeli Valenciano, nee Pangilinan.

She shared her testimony very briefly - from her coming from a very competitive family atmosphere, to how she got into showbiz, to how she met Gary, how they fell from grace [premarital pregnancy], to how she came to know the Lord and, from there, how He has turned her life around.

It was quite the testimony!

But then, she got into her teaching. "Practical Christianity", her topic was. Seemingly elementary stuff, right? Wrong.

This woman blew the lid off of any expectations we may have had and just took her teaching through the roof! I for one was blessed by her simple yet powerful way of sharing her insights into God's Word and ways.

You could tell that the stuff she was sharing were not spoonfed, pre-chewed snippets of other people's teachings and sermons. Rather, these were rock-solid Truths that had been fleshed out and tempered in the furnace of everyday, work clothes, roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-your-hands-dirty, rubber-meets-the-road kind of Faith!

She covered everything from the need to balance one's body/soul/spirit to wives submitting to their husbands (with some really funny stories about her life with Gary V!) to fleshing out your faith in an industry that is not exactly conducive to such.

Want a "fer instance"? How about the night Gary V almost did? Apparently they were both in Pasadena, CA for a show. For some reason Gary got really tired after. Around 3am, Angeli woke up (she said an angel woke her) and saw her husband, Mr. Pure Energy, on the floor in the fit of a violent seizure!

What does she do? She administers first aid by putting glucose in his mouth then calls a lady friend and asks for her help. When this friend comes to help she sees Gary's condition and goes, "Oh my God!"

When Angeli hears her say those words, she looks at her and says, "That's not the right way to call on Him!" Then she begins to call upon the Name of the Lord! She sees her husband turn blue. And then, from all appearances, she sees him die right before her eyes.

What does this woman of faith do? She digs in her faith-heels and rebukes the spirit of Death! Next thing she knew, Gary, who had been unconscious all this time, suddenly moves as if he were spitting something out of his mouth...and he revives. By now, he is surrounded by their production team.

Someone asks Gary, "Where are you?" He says, "Manila." And Angeli simply thanks God that Gary was speaking at all, without a slur, as seizures can damage one's brain activity! All this happened in the midst of their showbiz friends. And everyone saw the mighty Hand of God deliver her husband from death!

Listening to her, I was all the more convinced that "there is no such thing as darkness, only the absence of light."

Just her testimony of how, when Gary became part of the Sunday morning show ASAP, he was practically the only outspoken follower of Christ there, and how, in a few years time there are now about 17 of them - Jericho Rosales, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, and others whose names I either don't remember or didn't recognize (I am old!). And how many of these are talents of their company, Genesis Entertainment. Talk about advancing God's Kingdom in a darkened place!

I was truly blessed. And honored.

Listening to Anglei's testimony and sharing of God's Word I was amazed and encouraged that, indeed, one man, check that - one woman of God can make a huge difference even in a faith-hostile place like showbiz.

Praise You, Lord for raising up women and men alike who will boldly stand up and speak out in Your name and for Your Kingdom's sake!

My 30 Days....so far.

2009-08-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Thirteen days ago I made a 'covenant' of sorts with a fellow-blogger to take the challenge of blogging for 30 consecutive days.

I didn't get started until 3 days later.

How've I done so far? Not that good, really. Behold...

Day 1: Some thoughts on church growth

Day 2: > zilchen<

Day 3a: Yesterday [or 'Why I Missed A Blog'] - pathetic...

Day 3b: Someone had an early Christmas!

Day 3c: Dead tired.

Day 4: So excited for this Sunday!

Day 5: Happy Birthday, Boy!

Day 6: >nada<

Day 7: >nyet<

Day 8: What is a pastor?

Day 9: isip-isip...

Day 10: [does this one count?]

I know, I know. Fail.

20 more days to go. I don't suppose reposts and photo albums count...

I gotta lay off the food websites.

Strength cometh...

2009-08-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

...from the pen of Thomas Paine.

"THESE are the times that try men's souls.

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated."

~ excerpted from "The Crisis" by Thomas Paine, "author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States."

Thank You, Lord.

Thanks kids! =)

2009-08-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

Our kids made this for my birthday.

Jesi Rose, Charles Keith and Joshua Erickson....THANK YOU!

I thank the Lord for you three. I could not have been blessed with children more wonderful than you three.

Rose, thank you for your love. And for raising our three kids so well.

Most of all, thank You Lord for your faithful love.

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

*****

¹ Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.

² You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.

⁴ Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.

~ Psalm 127:3-128:4

Happy birthday, Boy!

2009-08-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Kaninang umaga pa ako nakatambad sa computer. Obvious ba?

Wala lang. Holiday e. [Grabe, ang hirap mag-blog habang nanonood ng Moymoy Palaboy...]

Anyway, among the many things na natunghayan ko online e yung blog ni blueberry010 tungkol sa masalimuot na kalagayan ng mga babies na pinapanganak sa Fabella Hospital. Actually, even her post was just a repost from another site, moms for moms.

Nung binabasa ko pa lang yung blog ni Reah e, sa totoo lang, naantig na ang damdamin ko. Lalo na nung silipin ko yung original blog, which had more photos of the pitiful babies, who were [are?] made to share beds just because so many of them were being given birth to by mothers who simply had no place to go to deliver them.

Habang binabasa ko yung blog at tinitignan ko yung mga litrato, may naalala ako:

Sa ganitong lugar din ako halos pinanganak mag-aapat na pu't tatlong taon na ang nakalilipas (in about 25 minutes).

Kasi nga, ayon sa alamat, kung sino man ang tunay kong nanay ay isinilang daw ako sa isang (pick one) ospital / lying-in clinic / poo-poo ng kalabaw at doon ako'y iniwan sa di matanto'ng kadahilanan.

At ayon pa din sa alamat, ang unang ipinangalan daw sa akin ng kung sino mang mahabaging kaluluwa sa balat ng lupa ay "Boy".

As in, "O, umiiyak na naman si Boy..."

"Kawawa naman si Boy, wala nang nag-claim..." [teka, nagta-Taglish na kaya sila noon?]

"O...O! Kinakain na ni Boy yung sarili n'yang poo-poo...!" [pwera biro, may kuwento akong narinig na ganito daw ang ginawa ko nung wala pa 'kong kamalay-malay sa mundo :( ]

Grabe 'no? Hirap talaga ng tumatanda. Nagpapaka-senti ng husto.

Pero, sa totoo lang, hindi ko po ito shinne-share dito para kaawaan ako or magpaiyak. hindi po.

Actually, I'm sharing this because, as I reflected back on this thought, may namuong pasasalamat sa'king puso para sa Panginoon.

Kasi nga, in Psalm 139, we can find these words...

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

And what amazes me now, looking back in retrospect, is how God, in His Sovereign wisdom, mercy and grace, saw it fit to take me from the pitiful plight I was in, which was similar to the plight of these babies, and made sure I fell into the right hands - caring hands, loving hands, blessing, nurturing hands.

Thank You, Lord!

Thank You for raising up Mr. Antonio and Mrs. Ruth Dedel to be my earthly, adoptive parents.

Thank You that, 43 years ago, nung kung sino man ang mga tunay kong magulang ay walang nakitang dahilan para 'wag akong pabayaan at ipamigay, Kayo Po may "nakita".

You had mercy on me. Better yet, You had a purpose for me, a plan.

You had a hope for me, and a future.

Even before my parents had me, You already had a name for me. "Jesse". You named me. You called me your own, long before I even knew You. Or cared to.

Thank You, Lord. For being with me, and watching over me, and blessing me now with a loving wife and three great kids. And an incredible, hope-filled future.

Noon pa man Po, minahal na Ninyo ako. At iningatan. At pinagpala.

Kahit na ang alam lang sa'kin ng mundo ay tawagin akong "Boy".

What I Wish I Knew About Worship Leading 10 Years Ago By Glenn Packiam

2009-08-21T03:31:00.000-07:00

[Thanks to jhodea for sharing this! You rock, bro!]

Last month marked 10 years since I graduated from college. It also marked 10 years of leading worship in a full-time, vocational capacity. I was 21 when I started and I thought I had it figured out. I was a theology major in college and had led worship in chapel services and traveled all around the world with teams from our university, leading worship and teaching churches how to do it just like we did. I knew how to run auditions, put a set-list together, and make worship flow like a river.

But I was clueless. I had no idea the way I would be drawn aside by own ego, fooled by opportunities and so-called fame. I was not prepared me for the hidden dangers that threaten the modern worship leader. If I could time-travel and talk to Glenn circa 1999, this is what I would say to him:

1. Don't be fooled by popular worship CDs/DVDs.
Almost every worship CD-- including ours-- begins with the roar of a crowd. I have yet to see a worship DVD filmed in front of a handful of people. The more time you spend with worship CDs and DVDs, the more you subconsciously believe that a worship service is about the euphoria of a crowd, the adrenaline rush of taking the stage.

More people aspire to be worship leaders now because of what a cool profession it has become. It's sickening to sit with young worship leaders and watch a U2 or Coldplay DVD and see their eyes light up as mine once did as they think of ways to incorporate those elements at their church. Why wouldn't they? There is little difference between today's worship services and rock band show.

And yet, lights and smoke are not the fall guys. Crowds and electric guitars and not evil. The problem is much more subtle-- and more sinister. It is what is happening in our hearts: the subtle confusion between showmanship and leadership that comes from paying too much attention to recordings of people on a stage. Speaking of the stage...

2. Beware of the stage.
The stage is a dangerous place. The sooner we admit it and stop hiding behind cliches about a "platform God has given us" or an "opportunity to make God famous", the better we will be. Then we can be honest about how tempted we are to work for the praises of men. The stage makes us talk in funny voices, prone to melodrama, careful with how we report the facts. It makes us less honest versions of ourselves, and, in the worst cases, reduces us to a persona and no longer a person.

Confession is the path to healing. Psalm 90 is a confession of how temporal life is, how fleeting our best efforts are, and what limited, time-bound creatures we are. The Psalm is attributed to Moses, the leader and heroic deliverer of, quite likely, millions of people. Moses knew that standing in front of people who could one day be an adoring crowd and the next day be a riotous mob would tempt the best leaders to attempt more than they can really achieve, to inflate themselves to be larger than life. So, confess your limitations. Ration your time on stage. Remind yourself and others how replaceable you are by involving other leaders. In Moses' words, "teach us to number our days."

3. Learn to love a congregation not work a crowd.
The more I traveled with the Desperation Band, the more I longed for my church. At first, it was fun to be at festivals and conferences, to share green rooms with other celebrity artists enjoying their vapor of influence. We had always made the commitment to be at our church far more than we were gone. In fact, on average we were leading worship here three times more than we were leading worship anywhere else.

But still, time in front of large crowds can make you do funny things. I've sprayed water from a bottle onto "worshippers" on the front row, I've crowd surfed in a packed room, and kicked beach balls from the stage. All in the name of having fun in church. None of these things are hideously evil, but they are deceptively destructive. They destroy the sacredness of the priestly vocation-- and the worship leader is priest before he is anything else.

The worship leader is not a priest who mediates on behalf of the people; he is a priest who stands among a congregation of priests, calling attention to God. He is, as a priest is, one of the people. He shares their bloodline, their heritage, their history. He knows their stories. Today's worship leader is trained to be a performer working the crowd, instead of a priest lovingly standing among the people of God.

4. Worship is more than our response.
Much has been made about how worship is our response to a revelation of who God is. That is true. But what is often left unsaid is that even our response is the result of God at work in us. Grace is not God doing something for us and then leaving us to respond. Grace is God working is us to become and do what He has called us to be and do. Grace is God doing FOR us what we COULD NOT and it is God doing IN us what we CANNOT.

So worship, then, is more than a grateful, whole-hearted response to God; it is God Himself at work in us causing us to see Him, leading us to surrender, making our offering pleasing and perfect. Here, the whole Trinity is at work. God the Spirit, at work in our hearts, revealing Christ and drawing us to the Father; God the Son, through Whom our sacrifice is made perfect because His was, the One in Whom the Father is well-pleased and so when we are in Him, the Father is well-pleased with us; and God the Father who is glorified forever.

That takes all the pressure off the worship leader. You are not responsible for how the people respond. That is God's work. You are there to be attentive to God at work in you and in the congregation, and to call attention to God among the people.

There. This is what I wish I knew 10 years ago. Perhaps it can save some of you from shipwreck.

LINK

So excited for this Sunday!

2009-08-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

In lieu of the traditional birthday handaan tomorrow, my family and I are foregoing this in favor of a much more meaningful celebration a day later.

Come Sunday afternoon we will formally launch "Jesus Alone Saves Ministries" (JASMin) in Purok 6, Sitio Mahabang Parang, Angono Rizal.

For the last month or so we have been heading straight to Angono right after Sunday morning service at ICS to hold worship services and fellowship with the brethren of the local church there.

This church is the direct fruit of my wife Rose's evangelistic and community service efforts of the school she pioneered there, Joyland Playschool and Learning Center.

We are expecting about 60-80 people to show up for the launching. And we are excited at what the Lord can and will do through this ministry endeavor.

Won't you pray with us for the success of this event? Consider it your best birthday gift for this forty-something teen-aged!

God bless you!

Dead tired.

2009-08-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

Dog tired.

Kapuy na gyud.

Godpadoodles.

(How am I even blogging?)

We finished our weekly Bible study early tonight. My plan was to take the first cab out to St. Luke's to visit my friends Eyriche and Elen, and see how their son Jesseyriche is doing. The boy's platelet count went down from the normal 150k to 73k this morning. Tonight, it's down to 33k. [Please do pray for him!]

So, I was gonna go visit them at St. Luke's and Rose, who was already in QC, would just rendezvous with me there. At least that was the plan.

So, I moseyed on down to the backside of Makati Med and began my routine cab-hailing. Normally, it takes me about 15 minutes tops before I finally snagged my ride. Not tonight.

Oh, boy. Ooooooooooohhhhhh boy-oh-boy-oh-boy.

I stood there, like an idiot, for over an hour, flagging down every car that even remotely looked like a cab. You see, I started hailing cabs while there was still some sun out. It was already dark, and the street lights were on, and I still hadn't managed to get me a cab!

The funny thing is, once the street lights are on, they start making small reflections on the car's roofs - they look like little lights... like Taxi signs!

So there I was, flagging down private cars! In pathetic desperation.

And, of course, there's the backside of my right thigh. Because I wear a leg brace my right leg's skin is constantly rubbing against its leather-wrapped frame. That's all fine, until I have to stand on it for an hour. then the skin starts chafing against the leather. Which is what happened tonight. And so, now, I've got me a 25-cent sized blister on the backside of my right thigh.

And that ain't good.

At one point, a cab actually slowed down to stop and pick me up. But as it was easing to the corner, the car right behind it kept honking its horn for the cab to move on forward. This jerk-of-a-driver was tailgating my would-be ride and now that he was slowing down to pick up a passenger he was impatiently commanding it to move along!

Needless to say, the cab ended up not picking me up. By this time, I had already been standing on my chafed skin for almost an hour! And, as a direct result of than non-pick up.... I had to stand there for another ridiculously protracted amount of time!

!!!!!!!

After over an hour of vain hailing (did I just type "vain hailing"????] I finally decided to try my luck elsewhere, like the front of Makati Med. By now, the security guard on duty at the back entrance had come to "know" me, quite well, it seemed like!

He actually asked me how I was doing. And when I said I was having no luck, he volunteered to radio his fellow guard at the front side. "Pito pa sir ang nakapila...." I made a mental calculation of the time it would take for seven people to get cabs in an orderly line and decided it would be less than the time I had been standing there at the back of the hospital.

So, I made my way to the front.

Lo and behold, who should be standing in line there, also waiting for a cab, but my sister-in-law ate Aida, the wife of my brother Sammy! Long story short, she offered to give me a ride home in the cab she would be getting into.

"Hooray!", I thought. "Redemption cometh in the form of a free ride home!"

I rejoiced too soon.

It took us another stretch of forever before she finally got a cab (when I got there she was third in line). And then, when we finally did get a cab, the cabbie we got must have been born with a sixth sense for choosing the most congested lane of traffic. At every turn.

We must've been on the most traffic-laden lanes on Ayala for at least another hour.

I swear, every time our cab would be stuck motionless in front of a Starbucks or a Jollibee or Brothers Burger... every molecule inside of me wanted to get out of the cab and make a mad dash for the counter to make an order for food to go. I was famished!

After what felt like a few days in traffic, we finally made it home. At last!

I climbed up the three flights of steps to our home. There, dinner awaited me in the form of tinolang manok and rice. And ice cold water. Aaaaahhhhhh..... salamat.

After dinner, I retired (emphasis on "tired") to our bedroom. At plopped onto bed.

Dead tired. And glad to be home at last.

Someone had an early Christmas!

2009-08-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

I was so happy! finally, finally it had arrived.

Earlier this year, I had to leave behind a sizable amount of stuff in the US - mostly the clothes I'd brought along to wear - but also new stuff like the new Bibles I'd gotten for Rose and the kids. And candy. And other things.

Happily, my gracious host offered to take care of it. He said, "Just leave it behind. We'll ship it all out to you, no problem."

And so, I left it all.

Well, it finally all arrived last Tuesday afternoon (yes, yes... this too is a late entry).

Finally, our kids and my wife could enjoy their new Bibles! I was especially thrilled to see Rose get her Bible, as I had excitedly handpicked that one just for her. Wouldn't you know it? She loved it!

But what made the delayed blessing even more of a treat was what our beloved kuya Eric and his wife, ate Ruth, added to it.

Even back then when I was still in their home in Ca, ate Ruth already told me that she had wanted to bless Jesi with clothes. As in, lots of clothes. Enough for her to hold her very own ukay-ukay if she wanted to.

And they did.

In that box were lots and lots of clothes. For Jesi.

Now you know why she looks the way she does in the picture above!

What's even more of a blessing is how, when I look back, God has always dealt with her in this way. Of all our children, indeed, in all our family, it is Jesi who has never had to worry about stuff.

Back when we were still in JOHIA, when Jesi was but a baby of 4 years, the twin daughters of a church member lovingly brought a whole sack of clothes to church and said that they wanted Jesi to have it all. It was so funny! Those twin girls were, what?, 5 years older than Jesirose at the time? Without us asking for it, God was blessing Jesi with enough clothes to last her 'til she would hit high school And she wasn't even in grade school back then!

Through the years, I have watched in amazement at how lavishly God chooses to bless our daughter. And not just with stuff. Even in her development as a person - mentally, physically, spiritually - Jesi has always exhibited God's hand of favor upon her life.

And for that, I am truly thankful.

Thank You, Lord, for an early Christmas. For Jesi. And for all of us.

You are so good.

So I was thinking...

Don't Grow Weary In Doing Well

The Necessity of Adversity

10 Scripture Texts on God's Mission - Ed Stetzer

Just DO Something! - Kevin De Young

My watchword for 2010 - CATALYST

1 : a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

ELEMENTS OF A CATALYST LEADER

In 2009...

What is Christmas all about?

Dedel Christmas Dinner '09 - Thank You, Lord!

Attention MCPHIL-ASIA: "GREATER '09" LIMITED EDITION MUGS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

20

Congratulations to Efren Pe�aflorida, CNN's 2009 Hero of the Year!

It's gonna be another GOOD DAY! =D

happytwit

Have you read Ella's blog?

On Consecration

happytwit

A Nation that Loves Its Own - From Gary V

Car soup

Force Majeure

Happy birthday Jesi Rose!

Yun na yun?

The Temptation

Philippine All Stars' NESTEA TV ad!

Happy 30th Anniversary Kuya Jaren and Ate Rose Lapasaran

Tiny babbols...

How do you eat an elephant?

On miracles

Where were you?

Grace under pressure.

God our Sanctuary

Brad Pit.

LIFE GIVING - Evotional.com

Indakan sa Makati Hoop!

Two ates and a mom - a wedding, a funeral and a future

On Decision Making - Rick Warren tweets

For the Love of God

In the presence of my enemy

In the Valley of Elah

I HATE RATS!

Heard...

Disney buys Marvel for 4B!

Life Words - Summary

Life Words

What do you say?

The Homies take their MidTerms

An evening with Mrs. Pure Energy!

My 30 Days....so far.

Strength cometh...

Thanks kids! =)

Happy birthday, Boy!

What I Wish I Knew About Worship Leading 10 Years Ago By Glenn Packiam

So excited for this Sunday!

Dead tired.

Someone had an early Christmas!

1 : a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action